Club statement: Malcolm Barrass

Bolton Wanderers are saddened to hear of the death of former player Malcolm Barrass, aged 88.

Blackpool-born Barrass, an inside-forward, made 357 appearances for the club between 1945 and 1957.

He initially signed professional forms with Wanderers in 1944 having been spotting playing for Manchester Works’ team, Ford Motors.

He showed no signs of being overawed by the big step up to wartime league football and during the 1945/46 campaign netted an impressive 22 goals in 40 appearances.

During his 12-year association with Bolton he would win an FA Cup runners’-up medal against Blackpool in the famous Matthews Final in 1953.

A flurry of England international caps followed before he eventually departed for Sheffield United. He would also go onto represent Nuneaton Borough, Pwllheli and Wigan Athletic, where he later took up a player-coach role.